55 - The Calendar Strategy: How to Automate Your Dining Discounts (And Never Pay Full Price Again)

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I recently did something a little crazy—but financially brilliant. During the holiday sales, I stocked up on restaurant gift cards. You know the ones: “Buy $100, Get $25 Free.” I bought them for my favorite local spots: the Irish pub around the corner, the pizza place we love on Fridays, and the nice steakhouse we save for special occasions. Mathematically, I was already winning. By getting $125 worth of food for $100, I had locked in an instant 20% discount on my future meals. But then I thought: How can I stretch this even further? The gift cards are great, but they are only one part of the equation. Most of these restaurants also offer weekly specials—Half-Price Burgers on Mondays, Taco Tuesdays, Kids Eat Free Wednesdays, or Happy Hour appetizers. If I used my discounted gift cards only on nights when the food was also discounted, I wouldn’t just be saving 20%. I’d be saving 50%, 60%, or even 70% off the regular menu price. The problem? I can never remember which restaurant has the ...
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5 - Blogger is the only website-maker that doesn't charge fees for monetizing ads

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...placing ads on a website that you create. This website is made with Blogger. I'm hoping to eventually make money with ad placement, without having to pay for the website. Always trying to save the $$$!

I've used Weebly for 13 years and used to pay for an annual subscription, but they have not made any updates in 11 years (in my opinion) and seem to be content being outdated. Wix charges. I've used Google Sites in the past, and although you can still create and host free websites on Google Sites (with no web hosting or maintenance fees as long as you use a Google or Gmail account), monetizing those websites through Google AdSense is not supported—Google no longer allows AdSense ads to be added to Google Sites, and there is no direct way to embed AdSense code on a modern Google Site.​

You can always monetize any website for free through other methods, such as affiliate marketing (embedding affiliate links) and selling digital products or services, as these just involve inserting regular links or buttons rather than advertising code. Platforms such as Amazon Associates, or selling your own digital goods, are common approaches that do not require any paid subscriptions or special hosting. I have an Amazon Associates account that lets me promote any product and receive a small profit. It's a great way to make a little cash (and I will do a post about it tomorrow)!


Additional Tips and Directions from AI:

If you want to monetize a website for absolutely zero platform fees—Blogger really is the best mainstream option for U.S. creators in 2025. Here’s how to make the most of it, plus a rundown on free website monetization across platforms:

Step-by-Step: Monetizing on Blogger With NO Platform Fees

  • Set up your Blogger site: Sign in at blogger.com using your Google account. Choose a template and start creating posts. Blogger will host your website for free—no hosting, domain, or maintenance fees required.
  • Enable Google AdSense (for ad revenue):
  • In Blogger’s dashboard, go to “Earnings” and follow prompts to connect your blog to Google AdSense.
  • If your site is approved (must have original content, at least 10–20 posts, and comply with AdSense policies), you can display ads and earn money per click or view.
  • Critically, Blogger is the only major free website builder that lets you add AdSense code without having to upgrade to a paid plan or buy a domain.

Add affiliate marketing—100% free:

  • Join programs like Amazon Associates or ShareASale (free to sign up).
  • Add affiliate links or product banners directly to your posts, pages, or sidebar—no paid widgets or subscriptions needed.​​

Sell digital products or services:

  • Use free tools (like Google Forms, PayPal buttons, or Gumroad links) to create “Buy Now,” download, or signup options.
  • You can promote and sell eBooks, templates, guides, or coaching without any fees from Blogger itself.

Optimize your site for revenue:

  • Write useful, original content—both AdSense and affiliate earnings depend on visitors who value your content.
  • Use “Pages” for disclaimers and privacy policy (required by AdSense and many affiliate programs).
  • Experiment with ad placement, banner types, and affiliate product positioning for best results.

How Blogger Compares to Other Free Website Platforms

Blogger:

  • Lets you add AdSense ads and affiliate links without any platform fees.
  • No limitations for monetizing with ads or affiliates.
  • 100% free—no hidden paid upgrades required.

Google Sites:

  • Allows affiliate links, but you cannot use AdSense or embed traditional ad code.
  • Free hosting, no subscription or upgrade fees.
  • Limited for traditional advertising; suitable mainly for informational sites.

Wix (free version):

  • Does not allow AdSense ads on free sites.
  • Affiliate links are limited and branding from Wix is prominently displayed.
  • Free, but paid plan required for full advertising/monetization flexibility.

Weebly (free version):

  • No direct AdSense integration.
  • Affiliate links possible, but full features (including ads) need a paid plan.
  • Free hosting available, but upgrades needed for revenue generation.

WordPress.com (free version):

  • Doesn’t support AdSense on free plan; affiliate links are limited.
  • Requires paid plans for advertising or embedding custom code.
  • Free hosting, but monetizing is restricted until you pay for an upgrade.

Key Takeaway:

Of all free website builders, Blogger is the only major option that allows you to add advertising through Google AdSense and monetize with affiliate links—without paying for a subscription, custom domain, or hosting. Other platforms either limit or block ads, require paid upgrades, or restrict affiliate link usage—making Blogger the clear choice for maximum free earning potential.

Extra Tips for Maximum Earnings and Transparency

  • Be patient: AdSense approval can take a few days to weeks and requires original content.
  • Disclose and comply: Always provide clear affiliate/ad disclosures for both ads and links.
  • Try multiple revenue streams: You can combine AdSense (when/if approved), affiliate marketing, and your own digital products to maximize free income potential.
  • Upgrade later if you grow: If your blog takes off, consider buying a custom domain (very low annual cost) for credibility—but you can monetize fully with zero cost on Blogger indefinitely.
  • With Blogger, anyone in the U.S. can build a money-making site, place ads, and promote affiliate deals—all 100% free to start and sustain.

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